Photonis Echo Gen 2+ White Phosphor vs Gen 3 Green Phosphor

A quick comparison video of three different night vision intensifier tubes. A gen 2+ white phosphor unit from ATN Corp, a gen 2+ white phosphor Photonis Echo, and a Gen 3 green phosphor Elbit XLS.

The Photonis Echo white phosphor intensifier tube is considered the peak of generation 2 night vision.

Best viewed at full resolution on a large screen.

[Hoplopfheil]

Complete stats are not available for all of these tubes for a number of reasons, but here's what we know:

Resolution (higher is better)
ATN WPT: 62 lp/mm (advertised)
Photonis Echo: 68 lp/mm (measured)
Elbit XLS: 76 lp/mm (measured)

EBI (lower is better)
Photonis Echo: 2.40
Elbit XLS: 0.63

Halo (lower is better)
Photonis Echo: 0.84
Elbit XLS: 0.91

Signal to Noise Ratio (higher is better)
Photonis Echo: 27.85
Elbit XLS: 28.6

[plooptube]

Hop, we get it, you LOVE the SiOnyx Aurora. No need to keep showing it off all the time.

[jhalscott]

Amazed at how much less noise with the Photonis than the others.

[iLikeRandomfacts]

I feel like he throws the SiOnyx in there every time as a joke now 😂

[Zoraxon]

I love the Sionyx disrespect at the end, gave me a good chuckle

[DullPoints]

I usually hire someone to hold a flashlight and run along with me, but I suppose one of these could work if they call in sick.

[CalebE]

This video is just making me want to get the photonis more and more. Seems like the echo tubes might be the right choice for me.

[jizzlemack]

The photonis echo isn’t a “normal” gen 2+ by a long shot, they utilize the gen 2 technology, but in a way that’s equivalent to gen 3. I don’t recall exactly how it’s done. The only downfalls I’m aware of are: they struggle with certain IR spectrums and sometimes cause a strobing effect with IR, and their service life is shorter than gen 3.

[abafproductions]

Hey, Hop. Love the content. Any chance of you doing a comparison video on budget weapon lights? Would be much appreciated. Thank you

[delta-wdgg]

If you clicked on this video thinking that this was the cover of "Abbey Road" but filmed using night vision, go ahead and hit that like button 👍

[Robomann]

Do you have autogated and non autogated tubes?
Loads of Folks actually think that nightvision is useless once you have a lightscource illuminating a certain area, as it will blind you to oblivion.
Having a comparison about that is pretty interesting too.
(i only have a gen 2+ autogated unit)

[karas]

Love how you are throwing jabs at SiOnyx without even mentioning them in the title

[Mr_Glenn]

I wonder how my 2337 FOM, 33.87 SNR, 1.1 EBI Echo would hold up against that Gen 3.

[Ranstone]

Digital night-vision will one day rule the world.
It is not this day...

[thegolflife]

Are the AGM Gen 3 wp any good? I’ve wanted a pair because of their 51 degree FOV

[soccerpaintball]

I do Wonder how the runcam night Eagle compares to these tubes

[josholdham]

Why does that aftermarket Gen 2+ tube almost look better that the Gen 3?

[forrestgumball]

Hop throwing in the Drunk Simulator camera at the end

[beepmo-cz]

Cool video. Reminds me of splinter cell. My buddy eric and I played that together

[Bandits]

have you seen the nocturn industries pvs5-31. the seem to be pv5s in a replica pvs 31 housing. I just cant find any videos on them and i would like to see you tear them apart if there trash. but there at a relative good price point so yeah